A SCOUTMASTER was told by a sheriff yesterday to sell his home to pay “very, very significant” ­compensation to the children he abused 40 years ago.

David McDonald, 78, was also warned he would have to pay any fine quickly to avoid him dodging justice by dying before his victims are compensated.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told McDonald he was considering ordering him to pay tens of ­thousands of pounds to the three victims – now middle-aged men – he abused in the 1960s.

He has given the OAP less than a month to collate the worth of his property, pension and assets before reporting back to Perth Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Foulis said he did not rule out jailing him but was investigating the only other sen­­tencing option.

“It seems to me a way of dealing with this is by finding out exactly what your client is worth,” he told solicitor Rosemary Scott, adding: “And I mean everything.”

He said: “I would put consideration to making very significant compensation orders. In addition I would make a very significant fine.

“If it means your client has to sell his house then so be it, because these offences may be old and your client may have little recollection, but he knew only too well when he was committing these offences that he was acting against the law.”

He added: “I don’t wish to appear morbid but if I were to make a compensation order, my concern first and foremost is for the victims. We are all mortal but folk who are 78 are perhaps more mortal than those who are 55 or younger.”